Preview: Kolkata Knight Riders v Kings XI Punjab

On a roll after two successive victories, Kolkata Knight Riders would be cautious not to slip at home when they face a resurgent Kings XI Punjab in their IPL V fixture on Friday.

Knight Riders and Kings XI started their season five campaign in a similar fashion with both the teams suffering two losses in the first two matches before tasting their first success in their respective third game.

While Gautam Gambhir's boys started the turnaround in Bangalore, Adam Gilchrist-led Kings XI did it at home against Pune Warriors India in their last outing.

With both teams having found the winning mantra after the jittery start, tomorrow's outcome would be crucial as they will look to outdo each other and avoid another hiccup.

Knight Riders slow bowlers led by Bangladesh's left-arm spinner Shakib Al Hasan will once again look to get the most out of the tailor-made condition.

It is the visitors' ability to adapt against Knight Riders slow bowlers Shakib and Sunil Narine on the difficult Eden surface that would determine the outcome of the match.

Against Rajasthan Royals, Shakib was brilliant with his guile as his three wickets in a crucial stage of the match ensured it a low-scoring affair.

The Bangladeshi will once again look to sizzle.

"I love playing here. It's like my home ground as I've been playing here since u-15 days. Hope there would be many more (such performances)," Shakib said after their win last night.

The Shakib-Narine duo not only picked four wickets but conceded a miserly 39 runs from eight overs, something that set the tone in favour of the Knight Riders.

Gambhir would once again look to use the duo with the best advantage as it would be a battle of spin against the likes of an inform Shaun Marsh, Gilchrist and David Hussey.

Laxmipathy Balaji, who earned the man of the match for taking four for 17 in Bangalore, returned wicketless yesterday but the Tamil Nadu pacer led the seam attack beautifully to maintain the pressure at the other end.

James Anderson and Stuart Broad reduced the West Indies to 84 for four at lunch on the first day of the second Test at Trent Bridge here on Friday, as the tourists suffered another collapse.
But Shivnarine Chanderpaul, officially the world's best batsman, was still there on 19 not out after defying England's attack for more than 10 hours during West Indies' five-wicket defeat in the first Test at Lord's.

Murali Vijay became the first Indian to hammer two centuries in the Indian Premier League as Chennai Super Kings stormed into final with an 86-run win over Delhi Daredevils on Friday.
The opener cracked four sixes and 15 fours in his quickfire 58-ball 113 as defending champions Chennai posted a commanding 222-5 off their 20 overs before dismissing Delhi for 136 at the Chidambaram stadium in Chennai.